20 Simple Ways To Get Rid of Mosquitoes

9 min read | Posted on February 19, 2019

By Joan Clark

Problems with mosquitoes in your house can be a real nuisance, but more importantly, mosquitoes carry deadly diseases like malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika. Getting rid of these pests often involves chemical agents.

But, don’t worry, I’m going to show you how to keep mosquitoes out of your house and how to keep mosquitoes away naturally. We will discuss how to keep mosquitoes out of your house, and how to get rid of mosquitoes inside the house using home remedies to kill mosquitoes. I hope my methods work for you, they have made a big difference at our house and allowed us to enjoy the summer months more.

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away

1. Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your House

Prevent mosquitoes from entering your home by patching screens, caulking up holes and using weather stripping products to seal gaps under doors.

Keep your doors closed whenever possible. Preventing mosquitoes from coming into the house simplifies the battle.

2. How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Inside the House

Camphor is one of the best natural mosquito repellents, so use it to drive mosquitoes out. Put one camphor tablet in a small bowl of water and place it in the room.

Mosquitoes leave the room because of the odor. Replace the camphor every 2 to 3 days to keep repelling mosquitoes. Use camphor wherever mosquitoes are a problem.

3. Don’t Let Mosquitoes Breed

Mosquitoes only need a few drops of water to reproduce. If you have an ongoing problem with mosquitoes, look for areas of standing water in the house.

Check your plants, flower vases, bathroom and shower areas for pockets of standing water that might be harboring the next generation of mosquitoes. For areas where water is necessary, such as a flower vase or dog bowl, completely change the water daily.

4. Keep Porch Lights Off

Porch lights and door lights draw in mosquitoes, and they can quickly get into the house when the door opens. Avoid attracting them by keeping the lights off or dim, or by replacing white lights with yellow ones.

Mosquito-Repelling Scents
  • Lemon or citrus
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Lemon eucalyptus
  • Lemongrass
  • Lavender
  • Geranium
  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Citronella
  • Cinnamon

These are just a few of many ways of how to repel mosquitoes. Depending on the type of mosquito different scents might work.

5. Use Citronella

Citronella oil is a natural mosquito repellent that will kill mosquitoes and drive them out of your house. Look for citronella candles or use citronella essential oil in your vaporizer or oil diffuser.

6. Use Candles in Mosquito Repelling Scents

Many essential oils repel mosquitoes, and burning candles that contain these scents are an efficient way to keep mosquitoes out of your home.

It is easy to find candles in stores or make your own using the essential oils in your fragrance mix. Try different candle scents to keep mosquitoes out of your house.

7. Plant Holy Basil

Holy Basil, or Tulsi, is a useful mosquito killer and repellent. Plant holy basil in containers in your home to keep mosquitoes away and rub the oil on your skin for an effective repellent.

8. Plant Mint

Peppermint plants have a pleasantly relaxing smell that mosquitoes do not like. You can use this to your advantage by planting peppermint with your houseplants or use peppermint essential oil in a vaporizer or diffuser to fill the room with the scent. You can also apply peppermint oil to your body like a mosquito repellent.

9. Mosquitoes Hate Garlic

Garlic is a natural mosquito killer and repellent. The strong odor of garlic prevents mosquitoes from biting and drives them out of your home.

Use garlic in your cooking and get double benefits. The cooking aromas will drive them out of your home and eat garlic will keep mosquitoes from biting you.

10. Use Mosquito Traps

A very simple mosquito trap can solve your indoor mosquito problem quickly. Mosquitoes are attracted to water; it is necessary to breed the next generation.

Mosquito Trap Water
  • Water (1 Pint)
  • Dishwashing/Liquid Soap (5 or 6 Drops)

While you should normally get rid of all standing water that might attract them, you can also use it to trap them. Place a small bowl of soapy water in a discrete location in each room. The water will attract them, and the soap will trap them, drown them, and prevent the next generation.

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away From You

If mosquitoes in the house are a problem, you will probably want to wear mosquito repellent throughout the day. Many commercial products work well, but they come with risks, especially for everyday use. However, our natural solutions are just as practical and perfectly safe. Here are our best suggestions for keeping mosquitoes away from you.

11. Skip the Perfume

Many perfumes attract mosquitoes to you. If you seem to be eaten alive by mosquitoes, it may be your perfume. Stop wearing it for a few days to see if it helps.

If you feel you must wear scent, try an essential oil blend that contains the oils of plants that mosquitoes hate, such as lavender.

12. Use Mosquito Nets

Mosquito nets are an old but practical solution to the mosquito problem. Use mosquito nets to surround your bed and keep mosquitoes away.

Don’t forget to cover your baby’s crib with mosquito netting also. Netting is a good solution in areas with a high mosquito population. Hang the nets from the ceiling or the bed canopy and surround the bed. Raise the net to get into bed, then replace it with a barrier and a good night’s sleep.

13. Rub Dryer Sheets On Your Skin

Dryer sheets are reported to help repel mosquitoes. I haven’t tried this method personally, but I would use a scented lavender sheet for best results. It is also a great way to keep spiders away.

Some people might be allergic to the dryer sheets, so avoid using dryer sheets if you have sensitive skin.

14. Swat Them Better

If a mosquito does land on you, kill it. But here is the best way to swat them.

For best results, don’t react immediately. Give the mosquito a minute to settle in and get ready to bite. Then attack quickly with a fast slap. Usually, if you slap them immediately, they are on the lookout and will get away. Once they have relaxed their diligence, you can swat them more reliably.

15. Neem Oil

Neem oil is a natural insecticide and repellent. In its concentrated form, it can cause skin irritations in some people, so always use it diluted with coconut oil, olive oil, or another carrier oil. Neem oil has a strong smell that some people find unpleasant so that you can use other essential oils in the mix for a better fragrance.

Neem Oil Spray Recipe
  • Warm Coconut Oil (20 ml)
  • Neem Oil (20 Drops)
  • Lavender or Other Pleasant Fragrance (5 to 10 Drops) (Optional)

Our Neem Oil Spray recipe is designed to fit into a small 30 ml bottle. Mix it directly in the bottle and spray onto all exposed areas of skin every 8 to 12 hours.

>> Extra Tip on Neem Oil: It is one of a few home remedies to get rid of bed bugs too.

16. Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent Spray

This mosquito repellent combines the strongest mosquito repelling essential oils to make a spray that will last for 8 hours or more.

Essential Oil Mosquito Spray Recipe
  • Distilled Water (100 ml)
  • Vodka (1 Tbsp)
  • Citronella Essential Oil (20 Drops)
  • Neem Oil (20 Drops)
  • Lavender Essential Oil (20 Drops)
  • Tea Tree Essential Oil (20 Drops)
  • Lemongrass Essential Oil (15 Drops)
  • Geranium Essential Oil (5 Drops)

Mix the ingredients in a small spray bottle. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator for a cooling mist during the hot summer months.

17. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an extremely versatile oil with many benefits for your skin. It is a powerful antifungal and antibacterial agent that helps skin heal. It also repels mosquitoes.

You can place a few drops of tea tree oil into your vaporizer to keep mosquitoes out of your house, or use a few drops on your skin as a mosquito repellent.

18. Lavender

Unlike many mosquito repellents, lavender has a sweet smell, which makes it the perfect choice for regular use to keep mosquitoes at bay. Lavender has been reported to bother mosquitoes and prevent them from biting.

Use lavender oil as a room freshener to keep mosquitoes away or apply it to your skin for a pleasant mosquito repellent. Mix a drop or two of lavender essential oil into your usual moisturizer or body lotion and use as usual.

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away from the Patio

 19. Use a Fan

Not only will a fan provide cooling air for you and your guests while you use the patio, but it also keeps the mosquitoes away.

The insects have trouble flying in the rapidly moving air and will have to relocate. While this solution is only temporary, it can allow you to enjoy your outdoor space more often. For best results, use several fans, set on high, and cover the entire space with a cooling breeze.

20. Use Natural Mosquito Repellent Plants on the Patio

Fill containers with plants that naturally repel mosquitoes to keep them away from your patio and indoor spaces. There are many plants that mosquitoes hate, so you can choose the plants that best suit your decor. We’ve talked about the essential oils of some of these plants already, but if you have a green thumb, the plants themselves could be your answer.

Plants that Repel Mosquitoes
  • Marigolds or Calendula
  • Citronella plants: Citronella winterianus or Cymbopogon nardus
  • Beebalm or Horsemint
  • Ageratum or Flossflowers
  • Catnip
  • Garlic
  • Holy Basil
  • Lavender
  • Lemongrass
  • Rosemary

Use these plants around the patio and doors or inside the house for best results. Put them in pots, hanging baskets or planters and scatter them around the area.

Home Remedies to Kill Mosquitoes

Most of the remedies listed above merely repel mosquitoes, which may not be enough if you live in a heavily infested area.

To kill mosquitoes use mosquito traps in each room and neem oil as a spray or repellent. Neem oil is an insecticide that has the benefit of being good for your skin. You might also try a mosquito zapper outside your patio door, but these devices also kill many beneficial insects.

Live Mosquito-Free

As a long-term solution, mosquito prevention is important.  Avoid attracting them and make sure you don’t provide attractive breeding grounds. These should be your first steps to controlling the mosquito population in your house and yard.

Once you have taken these steps, use repellents as a short-term solution. By combining these strategies, you will be able to get rid of them or at least drastically reduce the population.

Source: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-keep-mosquitoes-away/

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